14 MAY 2023; Groningen - Ajax; Match Day 32

[Orange14]

Ajax travel to Groningen to face a team that has been down on its luck all season long and is officially relegated. AZ have a Europa Conference League match against West Ham on Thursday and take on FC Emmen on Sunday. PSV, who appear to be out of reach for 2nd, take on Fortuna Sittard at home.

[Tom_]

I want to see a big win today.

There’s a tiny chance Ajax could catch PSV and both teams have the same goal difference. PSV play Heerenveen next week, who are chasing a playoff spot, and AZ on the last day.

I know it’s not likely to happen but I’m hoping Ajax do their bit.

[SPL]

Hato at CD ,Wijndal LB and Tadic Mf with Klaassen finally dropped .Should be a big win .Having problems with my broadband today and I dont have a smart phone so not sure how much I will see,

[Orange14]

Game is now suspended for 20 minutes after three smoke bombs were thrown in the direction of the area where Ajax was going to take a corner kick. Someone ran onto the field with a banner but I could not see what it said. If there is another incident the game will be called off and defaulted to Ajax.

[SPL]

6 mins and they are off.Dont think this game will get played today.Behind closed doors probably Tuesday or Weds afternoon

Will we get the 3 points automatically???

[Tom_]

I think the commentator on ESPN NL said this was pre planned or even pre announced and he’s expecting the match to be cancelled. Not sure if I understood 100% so we’ll see what happens.

[Tom_]

It was announced on social media apparently.

The sign basically said “management F off”. I presume it was targeted at the Groningen management… but not necessarily!

[Orange14]

6 mins and they are off.Dont think this game will get played today.Behind closed doors probably Tuesday or Weds afternoon.

I though the match would be defaulted but could be wrong.

[SPL]

All recent suspended games either got completed that day or finished off a few days later. Willem v NAC I think went back a few days later to play 10 mins.

[Tom_]

The pundits on ESPN seem to think this is a deliberate plan to prevent the match happening so there will be another incident and that will mean it had has to be cancelled.

[Orange14]

A second set of smoke bombs were thrown onto the pitch just as the players came back and it's suspended a 2nd time.

[Orange14]

Match is officially cancelled.

[Tom_]

Manschot (the referee) is on TV now saying that they were aware this was planned. I’m guessing from Tadic’s reaction that the players knew too.

I suppose it’s going to come down to the clubs controlling who and what comes into the stadium which is … not ideal.

[Orange14]

Manschot (the referee) is on TV now saying that they were aware this was planned. I’m guessing from Tadic’s reaction that the players knew too.

I suppose it’s going to come down to the clubs controlling who and what comes into the stadium which is … not ideal.

Most stadiums in the US do not permit large bags or containers to be brought in. Lady's purses also need to be very small as well. I don't know what the size of smoke bombs are but there does need to be a way to handle this.

[Tom_]

Yep. For the vast majority of people who are just going to watch a football game, getting patted down and having your bag searched is unnecessarily invasive though.

Not saying I know how it should be handled.

[SPL]

I have always had my bag searched at The Arena,only ever had a cheese roll and bottled water to declare.Think they search for drug dealers!

[SPL]

To be played Tuesday 15.00 CET, no fans. I wont be staying in on a midweek afternoon so will miss it.Most Ajax fans will be working so Ajax fans are punished when all it needed was for Groningen to put up nets or leave that stand empty.

I did read before the game many on Showtime saying Groningen ultras are going to stop the game.

[SPL]

Fans on Showtime furious with the new time . Ajax wanted to finish the game today without a crowd or play tomorrow morning so they dont have to come back on Tuesday .

So Groningen fans get game postponed and Ajax fans are punished . Dutch FA are a joke, sadly Ajax just have to go along with the farce.

[Orange14]

AZ easily beat Emmen and PSV really struggle but a great strike by Simmons wins it late. Ajax really need to beat Groningen now.

[Orange14]

The lineup for the continuation of Sunday's abandoned game will be the same. Ajax need a win to move ahead of AZ in the rankings. The large goal differential that Ajax had several weeks ago has now melted away and the only think in their favor is that AZ and PSV face each other on the final match day.

[Tom_]

Ahead 1-0 off a Tadic penalty. Groningen are struggling and we should be able to run up a score here.

[Tom_]

You can really see how badly the team lacks quality in this game. They’re totally dominating but they just fumble the buildup *every* time and don’t get the chances they should. Very frustrating to watch.

[Orange14]

LOL, I totally missed the game as I thought it was on at 15:00 our time. I'll see if I can get a replay on ESPN. I see we win a squeaker 2-3

[SPL]

I missed the game ,it is a lovely sunny day here on the South coast and as i am at cricket Thursday,Friday and Saturday i had to take the wife out.I can get away with staying in on a Sunday but not a sunny afternoon mid week.

Anyway from reading the match report I did not miss much and another poor performance by Ajax. Dont think recent games are any better than when Schreuder was in charge.Heitinga is not the answer, why not give Hynsson 10 mins after all he Godts and Pasveer are likely to be the only subs who will be here next season.,

[Orange14]

The good thing that can be said about today's continuation of the abandoned match is that Ajax won. Statistically they had the better of the play but the problems that have plagued the team all season long continue to linger. There is a real lack of cohesion on defense that leads to big problems on prevented attacking situations, particularly when the ball is cheaply lost. The team just cannot press as well as they were doing in years past as some players are just not quick enough. Mathematically, Ajax still have a chance for 2nd place but that would require a meltdown on the part of PSV but having watched PSV play last weekend, that cannot be ruled out. More realistically , Ajax are playing for 3rd place right now. Fortunately, the goal differential over AZ is immense.

Player Ratings:

Rulli (6.5) - forced to make some tough saves; don't know if he was screened on the first goal but he was not able to deflect it, nothing he could do on the 2nd
Rensch (5.5) - his slip in the box late in the match might have been catestrophic
Timber (7) - good match over all and he ended up with the match winner
Hato (6) - some moments of uncertainty but then he is only 17 years old
Wijndal (6.5) - thought he was very good in the offensive end overlapping and cutting inside
Alvarez (6) - workmanlike spending time in the MF and on the back line
Taylor (5.5) - just above average
Bergwijn (5.5) - totally wasted in the MF
Kudus (6) - better match today but not at peak fitness; had a couple of good shots on goal
Brobbey (6) - decent enough
Tadic (6.5) - I guess the MF experiment did not work out and he moved back to left wing; his free kicks were much better
Klaassen (5) - when he is the first one off the bench, you know things are not right
Godts (NR) - on late for Brobbey

Utrecht at home this Sunday.